BRITAIN’S TRAFFIC

Southland Times, Issue 20619, 18 October 1928, Page 7

BRITAIN’S TRAFFIC

TRANSPORT INQUIRY. i SWEEPING CHANGES EXPECTED. (Rec. 5. 5u.m.) Rugby, October 16. The Royal Commission on transport begins on 7 hursday what is probably the biggest imfuiry in recent years. It is expected to take at least two years and to provide the basis of legislation which will change the transport system of the country radically. The whole field of transport outside London, which will be treated separately under the London traffic pool scheme, is to be considered, including transport by sea, coast and ferres, with the object of organizing it to the greatest public advantage. It wiH be the task of the commission to adjust the rival interests of local authorities owning tramways and omnibuses and private road transport interests and the raiL ways. Traffic experts, taking a long view, anticipate that the result will be the creation of transport pools for important areas in the provinces similar to the pool for London. Sir Arthur Griffith Coscawen, a former Minister of Health, is chairman of the commission.—British Official Wireless. SOME STARTLING STATISTICS. London, October 17. England’s traffic problem has become a nightmare, says the Home Secretary, Sir W. Joynson-Hicks. Thirty-three thousand were killed on the streets in ten years and the hospitals were overcrowded as the result of motorists speeding. Coroners reported that 40 per cent', of the accidents were due to carelessness of motorists, 35 to 40 per cent, due to pedestrians and the balance was equally due to defects in vehicles, the condition of roads and fog.—